Tethered ball baseball practice device

ABSTRACT

The batting practice device which rotates a ball suspended on a cord to a center point is collapsible and includes means for adjusting the relative height of rotation of the ball to the batter and allows the ball to be in substantially free flight when hit. Included in the device is a frame structure having collapsible tripod legs for reducing its size for storage. The frame supports a rotatable, vertically mounted shaft. A tubular boom is horizontally supported on the upper end of the shaft. A cord is attached to the tubular boom at one end and the other end of the cord has a ball attached thereto. The lower end of the shaft has a handle attached thereto for facilitating rotation thereof. The tripod legs have a seat attached thereto whereby an operator may sit while operating the handle for rotating the shaft and ball.

United States Patent [191 Pennington [4 1 July 29, 1975 [76] Inventor:Donald D. Pennington, 5340 E. 47th PL, Tulsa, Okla. 74135 [22] Filed:Mar. 18, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 451,895

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-T. Brown [57]ABSTRACT The batting practice device which rotates a ball suspended on acord to a center point is collapsible and includes means for adjustingthe relative height of rotation of the ball to the batter and allows theball to be in substantially free flight when hit. Included in the deviceis a frame structure having, collapsible tripod legs for reducing itssize for storage. The frame supports a rotatable, vertically mountedshaft. A tubular boom is horizontally supported on the upper end of theshaft. A cord is attached to the tubular boom at one end and the otherend of the cord has a ball attached thereto. The lower end of the shafthas a handle attached thereto for facilitating rotation thereof. Thetripod legs have a seat attached thereto whereby an operator may sitwhile operating the handle for rotating the shaft and ball.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl 273/26 E [51] Int. Cl A631)69/40 [58] Field of Search 273/26 E, 95 A, 197 R,

273/200 R, 200 A, 200 B, 184 B, 185 C [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,441,221 1/1923 Fourcher 273/26 E 2,628,097 2/1953Lecznar.... 273/26 A 2,697,603 12/1954 Hairies 273/95 A X 3,262,7037/1966 Hodlick 273/95 A 3,550,938 12/1970 Cunningham 273/26 R PATENTEDJUL 2 9 I975 SHEET TETI-IERED BALL BASEBALL PRACTICE DEVICE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices for batting practiceand more particularly to a device wherein a ball suspended on a cord isswung through an arc past the batter.

As is well known, the training of a ball player to become an expertbatter requires many hours of actual batting practice. This practice maybe attained by the use of a pitcher and numerous fielders or by the useof a mechanical device. Problems encountered in the pitcher and playermethod are (1) frequently the pitchers lack of accuracy, (2) physicalfatigue limits the pitcher, and (3) the excessive time it takes thepitcher to pitch each ball. Also with the necessity of fielders toretrieve the hit balls, batting practice cannot be achieved withouthaving a plurality of individuals present.

A motorized arm which slings balls from a hopper to a batter hasheretofore been developed. However, this method still requires that aperson retrieve the balls and refill the hopper thereby assumingadditional time. Also the cost of this slinging arm device is tooexpensive for the average individual to possess one.

In a second type of mechanical device, a ball suspended on a cord isswung in an are past the batter. While the basic concept of a battingpractice device having a ball rotating about a center point issatisfactory, certain deficiencies exist which have heretofore precludedthe wide use of this type of batting practice device.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedbatting device wherein the suspended ball is manually rotated a greatnumber of times past the batter in a very short time.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improvedbatting practice device wherein the ball has great flexibility inrelationship to the non-rotating portion suspended thereto and will besubstantially in free flight when hit.

Still another object of this device is to provide an improved battingpractice device which has incorporated therein means for adjusting therelative height at which the ball is presented to each batter of adifferent height and to control the flight of the ball to a place in thestrike zone which may be a batters particular weakness.

A final object of this invention is to provide an improved battingpractice device which is foldable for carrying and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally the batting practice device of thisinvention includes a tripodal frame which carries a vertical rotatableshaft. A baseball suspended on a cord is interconnected to the shaft andthe shaft is rotated by means of an operator who sits on a seating meansprovided and rotates a handle to swing the ball past the batter. One ofthe tripodal legs is foldable for facilitating the carrying and storageof the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theapparatus in operation.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus showing the rotatableshaft thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view showing the connection of a seat to theframe, both elements of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 of the drawings is a side view of the apparatus showing the sameat the commencement of the folding procedure.

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a side view of the apparatus showing samefolded for carrying.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the interconnection of the ball cord to theboom cord by means of a swivel-snap.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate arrangement of the boom attachmentmember.

FIG. 7A is a top view of boom attachment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Looking now at FIG. 1,the batting practice device of this invention generally denoted as 10comprises a tripodal frame 12 to which rotatably supports a shaft 14.The shaft in turn carries a hollow telescopic boom 16 having a flexiblecord 18 extending therefrom which is interconnected, by swivel-snapmeans 20, to a ball 22. The ball has a short cord 24 affixed thereto.Cord 18 extends through boom 16 and terminates through a plug in therearward end of the boom, as is shown in FIG. 2. A knot 23 in therearward end of cord 18 prevents the cord from pulling out of the boom.This gives extra length to the cord and increases the elasticity thereofto absorb energy when the ball is hit.

Looking at FIG. 6, swivel-snap 20 on the end of cord 18 connects to theshort ball cord 24. Thus ball 22 and cord 24 can be purchased separatelyof 18 and if a ball deteriorates it can easily be replaced.

Frame 12 includes three legs 26A, 26B and 26C which are of tubularconstruction and which have secured to the bottom thereof fiathorizontal feet 28. The upper portions of the legs are bent inwardlyinto a substantially horizontal plane.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the extremities of the upper leg portions arepressed flat so as to be insertable between upper 30 and lower 32 platesof a triangular shaped connecting bracket 34. The compressed extremitiesof legs 26A and 268 have therein a transverse aperture 36 which receivesa shank of an enlarged headed bolt 38. A nut 40 threadedly engaging thebolt rigidly retains the legs to the connecting bracket.

Looking now at the compressed extremity of leg 26C, such has an openended slot 42 so as to receive the shank of a bolt 44 passing upwardlythrough holes in the plates 30 and 32. A wing nut 46 riding on the uppersurface of plate 30 provides tightening means for removably securing leg26C to the connecting bracket. Thus by the mere loosening of easilyaccessible wing nut 46, leg 26C can be detached from connecting bracket34.

Looking now specifically at connecting bracket 34, the upper and lowerplates have therein aligned apertures 48. Upper plate 30 has affixedthereon a hollow cylindrical sleeve 50 extending vertically upwardly.Sleeve 50 contains an internal longitudinal bore forming in conjunctiona race for a shaft 14 passing therethrough. Received over shaft 14 andsecured thereto by setscrew means along the length thereof is a collar52. Collar 52 rides upon the upper flat horizontal edge of sleeve 50 andserves to rotatably retain the shaft 14 in a vertical position. Suitablelubrication is provided for relatively frictionless rotation of theshaft.

Turning attention now to the upper end of shaft 14, pivotally securedthereto is a boom attachment member 54. Boom attachment member 54 has aU-shaped in cross section portion 56 and a tubular portion 58perpendicular to and fastened to the U-shaped portion. The U-shapedportion is secured to shaft 14 by means of a pin 60. Tubular portion 58which receives boom 16 can be operably moved through an are (top FIG. 4)as ball pops-up when hit. By manipulation of screw 62 threadedly passingthrough the shaft 14 and butting against the web of the U-shaped memberthe inclined position of the boom is adjustable. The height of the ballrelative to the batter is directly proportional to the inclined positionof the boom holder and this adjusted by the manipulation of a screw 62.The boom 16 is retained in the tubular portion 58 of attachment member54 by means of a hitch pin 63.

Rotation of shaft 14 and consequently of boom 16 is facilitated by meansofa handle 57 welded to the lower end of the shaft. Handle 57 includes asuitable grip 59 rotatably carried by the stem thereof. A mesh guard 61extending from legs 26A and 26B upwardly secured at the top thereof tosleeve 50 provides protection for the operators head during operation ofthe device.

Referring now back to FIG. 1 and also to FIG. 3, seat 12 is pivotallyinterconnected to legs 26A and 268 by a horizontal bar 64 extendingtherebetween and rigidly fastened thereto. Bar 64 extends outwardly fromboth legs 26A and 268 to provide a foot receptacle for the operator.Thus the weight of the operator is distributed to all three legs andprevents movement of the device during operation thereof.

Dual seat braces 66 pivotally jointed to bar 64 intermediate legs 26Aand 26B progress rearwardly and inwardly therefrom to leg 26C. As isshown in FIG. 3 the seat braces then pass outwardly of and adjacent toleg 26C and continue to extend rearwardly substantially parallel to eachother to receive and carry seat 68. A seat stabilizing bar 69 connectsthe braces below seat 68. Braces 66 are affixed to leg 26C by means ofabolt 70 passing commonly through the braces and the leg. A wing nut 72threadedly engages bolt 70.

Legs 26A, 26B and 26C are further braced by means of inclined braces 74Aand 74B. Arm brace 74A has compressed ends and is permanently pivotallysecured to leg 26A along the upper length thereof and extends downwardlyand rearwardly therefrom to terminate at and on bolt 70. The lower endof the arm is also compressed and contains an open ended slot 76 (shownbest in FIG. 4) so as to be removably intersecurable to leg 26C. Arm 74Bis of the same construction as arm 74A and is connected to and betweenlegs 26B and 26C similar to the connection of arm 74A to legs 26A and26C.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the folding operation of the apparatuswill now be discussed. To fold the apparatus, only four wing nuts needto be loosened. Wing nut 46 holding the upper end of leg 26C to bracket34 is first loosened. Then wing nut 72 holding the inclined braces 74Aand 748 to leg 26C is loosened and the inclined bracing members allowedto pivot upwardly then downwardly. Next leg 26C is detached fromconnecting bracket 34 and pivoted downwardly as is shown by the arrowsin FIG. 4. Finally the seat member is pivoted upwardly as is shown bythe arrows in FIG. 4 until the device assumes the carrying position asdepicted in FIG. 5.

In operation, the device is set up by the reversal of the followingprocedure heretofore described. An operator then sits on the seat as isshown in FIG. 1 and rotates by means of handle 57 the ball past a batterstanding at the periphery of the outline of the circle created by therotating ball. As the ball is swung by a batter, the operator mayrelease the handle, allowing the ball, cord and boom to freely rotate inthe reverse direction. When the batting procedure is finished, boom 16is removed from its holder and the apparatus is folded in the manner asheretofore discussed and the operator easily carries the device to itsstorage location.

FIGS. 7 and 7A show an alternate arrangement of the boom attachmentmember. This arrangement. as does that shown in the other views. has twoimportant functions: (a) the boom is free to pivot upwardly when theball is hit so that the path of the hit ball is more natural, and thestress on the boom is reduced; and (b) the angle of the boom relative tothe horizontal is adjustable so the height of the ball delivered pastthe batter can be selected.

During the detailed description of the preferred embodiment specificlanguage has been used for the sake of clarity. However, it is to beunderstood that the language used is not for limitation and includes allequivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similarpurpose.

What is claimed is:

1. A batting practice device for presenting a suspended ball to a battercomprising:

a supporting frame having three legs, one of which is detachably securedto the other two whereby, when one leg is detached, the frame may becompactly arranged for storing or shipping;

a shaft freely rotatably carried by said frame and extending verticallyupwardly therefrom;

a tubular boom having a first end vertically pivotally affixed to theupper end of said shaft;

a cord extending through said tubular boom and secured at one endthereof to said boom first end, said cord extending out a second end ofsaid boom, a ball being affixed to the outer end of said cord;

handle means secured to the lower end of said shaft for facilitating therotation thereof; and

seating means supported to said tripodal frame and located rearwardly ofsaid shaft whereby an operator seated thereon by rotating said handlerotates said boom to cause said ball affixed to said cord to rotate topresent said ball through a large diameter arc to said batter.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 having affixed to said frame guard meansfor protecting said operator.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes means foradjusting the relative height of rotation of said ball.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting arelative height of rotation of said ball comprises:

a boom attaching member having a first portion pivotally attached tosaid shaft and a second portion perpendicular to said first portion andprogressing outwardly from said shaft, said boom being attached to saidperpendicular portion; and

means for vertically pivoting said attachment member about the point ofattachment whereby said second perpendicular section is free to assumean inclined position relative to said shaft whereby said boom is free topivot upwardly when said ball is hit.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said seating means is pivotallysecured to said two legs and interconnected to said detachable legwhereby said detachable leg and said seating means can be pivoted tofold said frame.

1. A batting practice device for presenting a suspended ball to a battercomprising: a supporting frame having three legs, one of which isdetachably secured to the other two whereby, when one leg is detached,the frame may be compactly arranged for storing or shipping; a shaftfreely rotatably carried by said frame and extending vertically upwardlytherefrom; a tubular boom having a first end vertically pivotallyaffixed to the upper end of said shaft; a cord extending through saidtubular boom and secured at one end thereof to said boom first end, saidcord extending out a second end of said boom, a ball being affixed tothe outer end of said cord; handle means secured to the lower end ofsaid shaft for facilitating the rotation thereof; and seating meanssupported to said tripodal frame and located rearwardly of said shaftwhereby an operator seated thereon by rotating said handle rotates saidboom to cause said ball affixed to said cord to rotate to present saidball through a large diameter arc to said batter.
 2. An apparatus as inclaim 1 having affixed to said frame guard means for protecting saidoperator.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includesmeans for adjusting the relative height of rotation of said ball.
 4. Anapparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting a relativeheight of rotation of said ball comprises: a boom attaching memberhaving a first portion pivotally attached to said shaft and a secondportion perpendicular to said first portion and progressing outwardlyfrom said shaft, said boom being attached to said perpendicular portion;and means for vertically pivoting said attachment member about the pointof attachment whereby said second perpendicular section is free toassume an inclined position relative to said shaft whereby said boom isfree to pivot upwardly when said ball is hit.
 5. An apparatus as inclaim 1 wherein said seating means is pivotally secured to said two legsand interconnected to said detachable leg whereby said detachable legand said seating means can be pivoted to fold said frame.